Hi,

(Sorry, I'm reposting this because I thought the subject wasn't clear enough and I couldn't edit the original post.)

I started learning the piano a year ago (I'm 36). Back then I was not sure if I would continue playing for a long time, so I decided to buy an entry level DP, an Yamaha YDP-S30. I've been very happy with it, but lately I feel more and more frustrated when I go from my school's acoustic Kawai to my humble DP.

So, I'm thinking on upgrading to a better DP. An acoustic is not an option right now (the price is to high and I live in an appartment!). I'm considering buying a CLP-340, as I've read so many good things about it. My question is: do you think I'm going to notice a big difference between the CLP-340 and my YDP-S30? Would this be a good upgrade, or I'd better stick with my YDP-S30 for a while and then go for an acoustic, maybe with a silent system? And what about the CLP-320? Is it any good?

Today I had the opportunity to try a CLP-340 for a while and I felt a big difference in the keyboard! I also get a quote around 1.940€. Is it a good price?

Any help on this topic would be very much appreciated.


Best regards.

the differences will be noticable when you compare these 2. YDPS30 has GHS action, Yamaha entry level action, while CLP340 has GH3 action and CLP320 has GH. anything from GH, GH3 to NW action are good and comparable to acoustic actions. so, go for the best you can afford, GH3/NW, and therefore i wouldn't consider CLP320. since you are upgrading, you want to go a little further up.

CLP340 is a better option to you, i think, and besides, you like it so far and then why not get it?

Thanks for your response signa.

The thing that frustrates me the most on my YDP-S30 is the keyboard, which is very light. When I go from my S30 to the acoustic Kawai I use at my classes the big difference for me is the keyboard. Of course the sound is also way better, but I think the keyboard is really the main difference. I would really love to upgrade to a better DP, but only if the jump in quality is noticeable. As I said I've already played a CLP-340, but it was just for a few moments and it wasn't enough to get a good idea of the differences. The sound was obviously better than my S30, but I felt the keys were still a little on the light side. Is this a problem with all DPs?

Anyway, I'm also looking for alternatives. For now I've been just looking for Yamahas because they are widespread here in Portugal and I've been told they're more reliable then the Rolands. But I don't discard the ideia of trying a Roland. So, what's the equivalent of the CL-340 on Roland's lineup? The HP-203 or the HP-207? And would they fit my budget of 2000€ (around 3000 USD)?

Thanks in advance.

Best regards.

I've seen the CLP-340 (wood-finish) offered at ukpianos.com (Thomann Cyberstore) for £1,747 or €1,899. Shipping to Portugal adds just €20.

http://www.ukpianos.co.uk/yamaha-clp340.html

try to find the clp 370 and test it - there is a diference in weight because it have wooden keys and it cost aprox. 2200 in portugal.

The equivalent of a CLP340 is a Roland HP203. I believe they are roughly the same price.

Yamaha's equivalent to the Roland HP207 is the CLP380 which (here in the UK) is about twice as expensive as the HP207. I myself am debating between these two latter instruments and will be going out to test them further tonight.

I think the main differences you'll notice between the Yamahas and Rolands are the sound and key action. Roland is very rich and deep sounding. Yamahas (at least the CLPs I've tried) seem to sound a cleaner and brighter. They cut right through and are a bit uneasy on my ears. I have still not heard anyone say that the Yamahas have a tonal customisation feature to maybe change the sound a little bit. Roland 207 has the 'piano designer' feature, to let you change the sound. (I believe quite substantially too, but have yet to hear it for myself.)

The difference on the keys between 207 and 203 is minimal. Same PHAII except the 207 has ivory feel tops on the white keys. Not as slippery and cheap feeling as the 203s. The 203 feels a bit more authentic to me. Heavier than the two Yamahas and more like an acoustic.

One feature on the keyboards of the HP203 and 207 that some players don't like is the 'escapement'. Is essentially the mimicry of the action on a grand piano. Throughout the history of pianos, makers have tried to decrease this undesirable but unavoidable effect, but Roland have tried to faithfully recreate it. As an upright player you might find it distracting. For me it's a minimal effect and I don't notice it unless I really play the notes lightly and even then, I don't find it annoying, it simply IS. I don't like or dislike it.

Keep in mind that the CLP380 is a SUBSTANTIAL increase in price on any of the Rolands and is a huge jump from the CLP370, let alone the 340. To me, it does not seem worth the money, especially since the 207 is not that different in terms of specs. So if you feel that a higher spec than 340 is due, I'd seriously consider the 207. There is of course the CLP370. I think that's quite close to the 207 too. It has wooden keys (which Rolands don't have) BUT I still feel the keys are lighter than either of the Rolands. I guess Yamahas are just light keyed.

Before you jump up to a better Yamaha try out some other brands. The difference between brands might e more then between models of Yamaha.

The keyboard I liked the best was on a Roland RD700GX. Roland call this "PHA II Ivory Feel with Escapement". These in my opinion where better than any Yamaha. The RD700 was selling for $2,200. Any Roland with "PHA II Ivory Feel with Escapement" would play as well. I liked this keyboard bette then the Kawai grand at school and much bette then the older worn kawai uprights. One thing that struck me abot the RD700 vs. any of the Yamahas was the range. I would play very much softer or loouader on the RD700, wider dynamic range. And the "ivory feel" really was good, the keys were textured.

I did not like Kawai's wooded keys as well. I tried the CE200 ($1,800) it's very good.

I did not like the lower end Rolands very much Those that use ther "PHA Alpha II" keys, I thought were not as good as the better Yamaha keys.

Those are my opinions. But Ithink most people will do agree that the Roland "PHA II Ivory Feel with Escapement" is close to as good as it gets and the price is not out of your range.

ChrisA, I've already broaden my horizons and I've narrowed my choice down to the Yamaha CLP-340 and the Roland HP207 (as you can see in my other post).

But I'm definitely more inclined towards the HP207. The keyboard is really fantastic and I had the sensation that I played better on this piano than on mine. I felt like a better pianist!

Thanks for your input.

Best regards.